Retirement in Germany

This route is closed to you: the only retirement permit rests on supporting yourself without work or public funds. Check whether a parent or grandparent was German, as descent routes need no money.

Germany has no retirement or pension visa with a lower threshold. The only basis is a discretionary permit for people who will cover their living costs and comprehensive private health insurance themselves.

Two routes do not depend on money:

Descent. If a parent or grandparent held German citizenship, you may already be German or entitled to declare it. One declaration route for historic cases closes on 19 August 2031. Take the Germany Citizenship by Descent quiz.

Persecution. If your family lost German citizenship through Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945, descendants can have it restored as of right, with no deadline. Take the Germany Historical Displacement quiz.

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